Fast forward. Four months from now, my 2nd and current company, Union Galvasteel Corporation (UGC) will celebrate in style its 50th year of existence. Center of celebration will be at the place where it all started in 1963, at Poro Plant at Poro Point in San Fernando City, La Union. As the company celebrates its golden years, it is likewise excitedly looking ahead for the next 50 years and perhaps beyond.
Fifty years ago, the company, then named Bacnotan Steel Corporation (BSC), a division of Bacnotan Cement Industries, started with its old, sheet to sheet galvanizing operation producing GI sheets for roofing products. Five years later, another similar type of galvanizing operations was opened in Davao City. It was only in 1990 when it opened up in Calamba City, Laguna which would then become until now as its main plant. It started to expand and modernize with the construction of its coil by coil color coating line in 1993 and the commissioning of its continuous galvanizing line in 1997. The Asian financial crisis took its toll and nearly brought down the company to bankruptcy. But with a bamboo like tenacity and resiliency, brought about by overall restructuring of its operations and strategies, it survived the storm and started to expand more, both in reach and products lines. Today, it has the country’s biggest supply chain and distribution network in the industry with 26 roll forming plants, warehouses, and sales offices strategically located throughout the country from north to south. “Sa Tibay at Ganda, Panalo Ka” has become an institutionalized tagline of the company.
I joined UGC in the latter part of 1996 at the worst time when the financial crisis was hitting the company, the industry and the country real hard. All through these years, I did my fair share, practically in all aspects of the business, from operations, technical/quality assurance, marketing, human resource, training, finance, etc. Externally, I have broadened my scope of knowledge and understanding of the industry, not just locally but regionally as well, through active involvement and regular liaisons with steel industry associations and leaders, government agencies, customers, competition, suppliers, environmental groups, consumer advocates, etc. I even wrote a technical paper about how the company survived the crisis, which I presented at the SEASI International Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November 2002. Indeed, an enriching experience.
Emma A., a dear colleague from NSC who is now happily settled in Canada, once asked us to write about our life after steel. This is what I wrote; “Fortunately or unfortunately, my life is STILL WITH STEEL.
It seems like I have taken my steel career in full circle. But not quite.
Fifty years ago, the company, then named Bacnotan Steel Corporation (BSC), a division of Bacnotan Cement Industries, started with its old, sheet to sheet galvanizing operation producing GI sheets for roofing products. Five years later, another similar type of galvanizing operations was opened in Davao City. It was only in 1990 when it opened up in Calamba City, Laguna which would then become until now as its main plant. It started to expand and modernize with the construction of its coil by coil color coating line in 1993 and the commissioning of its continuous galvanizing line in 1997. The Asian financial crisis took its toll and nearly brought down the company to bankruptcy. But with a bamboo like tenacity and resiliency, brought about by overall restructuring of its operations and strategies, it survived the storm and started to expand more, both in reach and products lines. Today, it has the country’s biggest supply chain and distribution network in the industry with 26 roll forming plants, warehouses, and sales offices strategically located throughout the country from north to south. “Sa Tibay at Ganda, Panalo Ka” has become an institutionalized tagline of the company.
I joined UGC in the latter part of 1996 at the worst time when the financial crisis was hitting the company, the industry and the country real hard. All through these years, I did my fair share, practically in all aspects of the business, from operations, technical/quality assurance, marketing, human resource, training, finance, etc. Externally, I have broadened my scope of knowledge and understanding of the industry, not just locally but regionally as well, through active involvement and regular liaisons with steel industry associations and leaders, government agencies, customers, competition, suppliers, environmental groups, consumer advocates, etc. I even wrote a technical paper about how the company survived the crisis, which I presented at the SEASI International Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November 2002. Indeed, an enriching experience.
Emma A., a dear colleague from NSC who is now happily settled in Canada, once asked us to write about our life after steel. This is what I wrote; “Fortunately or unfortunately, my life is STILL WITH STEEL.
It seems like I have taken my steel career in full circle. But not quite.
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